Community proposes new uses for closed schools

French immersion, public charter programs suggested

A French immersion or public charter school were among suggestions made Monday evening by parents and community members as possible uses for the eight Prince George's County public schools that were closed this summer.

Superintendent Dr. William R. Hite Jr. was on hand to hear ideas at Morningside Elementary School in Suitland, one of the closed schools. The school system is holding similar meetings this month at all of the closed schools.

Hite told the handful of parents, school administrators and other community members in attendance that he hoped to make final recommendations to the Board of Education by Nov. 10.

The eight schools — which include Morningside and three other south county schools — shut their doors on June 18 and sent students to other area schools in an effort to relieve underenrollment and overcrowding.

The Board of Education's priority, Hite said, is to expand already successful programs, such as language immersion and other specialty schools. Other priorities include keeping the buildings ready for use in the event of an emergency and leasing them to community-based organizations, such as Boys and Girls Clubs.

Temple Hills parent Monique Adams said at the meeting she would like to see John Hanson French Immersion School, which shares a building with John Hanson Montessori in Oxon Hill, relocated into one of the vacant buildings.

Her 9-year-old son, Seth, a fourth-grader at the French immersion school, has to carry around his books, supplies and violin between classes since the school is too crowded for him to have a locker, she said.

"The kids deserve their own space," she told Hite.

Pat Crain, a regional director with the nonprofit organization Imagine Schools, proposed that the board approve a new public charter school for approximately 450 students to be housed in one of the buildings. The 74 Imagine Schools around the country teach kindergarten- through eighth-grade students in all-male and all-female classes.

School officials will take suggestions from the community at four remaining meetings this month, as well as accept submissions online through the school system's Web site.

According to Hite, an 11-person committee of school officials and community representatives is expected to accept proposals until Oct. 13 and make recommendations to the superintendent by Oct. 27.

Until the board decides how to use the buildings, custodial staff will continue to keep them clean and ready for use, said Tanzi West, a school system spokeswoman. Community groups can also submit requests to the school system to use the spaces for meetings or other events.

E-mail Zoe Tillman at ztillman@gazette.net.

Prince George's County Public Schools is holding a series of community meetings to solicit and receive input on how to use school buildings that were closed in June.

To sign up to speak, call 301-952-6539 or visit www.pgcps.org by noon on the date of the perspective meetings.